Lexical Summary seb: age Original Word: שֵׂיב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance age From siyb; old age -- age. see HEBREW siyb NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sib Definition (hoary) age NASB Translation age (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שֵׂיב] noun [masculine] (hoary) age; — suffix שֵׂיבוֺ 1 Kings 14:4. Topical Lexicon שֵׂיב (Strong’s 7869)Overview The term occurs once in the Old Testament (1 Kings 14:4). It evokes the whiteness associated with advanced age and functions as a literary marker of physical decline while simultaneously hinting at the dignity and gravitas Scripture often assigns to the elderly. Imagery of Whiteness and Age Throughout the Hebrew canon, whitened hair and dimmed eyes picture a body that has spent its vigor and is now dependent on God’s sustaining grace (Ecclesiastes 12:1-5). By choosing this rare word, the narrator of 1 Kings highlights the prophetic tension between frailty and spiritual acuity: even when human faculties fail, divine revelation remains unimpeded. Narrative Setting: Ahijah at Shiloh (1 Kings 14:4) “Now Ahijah could not see; his eyes were dim because of his age”. The prophet who once boldly confronted Jeroboam (1 Kings 11:29-39) is now confined to darkness. Yet from that very place he delivers a piercing oracle of judgment. The scene reminds readers that God’s word is not chained by human limitations; it can proceed from a weak vessel with undiminished authority. Theology of Gray Hair in Scripture 1. Honor and reverence: “Rise in the presence of the aged, honor the elderly, and fear your God” (Leviticus 19:32). In light of these texts, שֵׂיב is more than a clinical description; it stands at the intersection of human frailty and divine fidelity. New Testament Resonance Although the Greek Scriptures lack an exact equivalent, the theme reappears when Simeon and Anna, both advanced in years, recognize the infant Messiah (Luke 2:25-38). Their physical age parallels Ahijah’s, underscoring God’s practice of entrusting revelation to those whom society may overlook. Pastoral and Devotional Applications • Ministry does not retire with the body. Elders in the congregation can speak prophetically into contemporary issues, just as Ahijah pronounced truth from physical weakness. Ministerial Implications 1. Intergenerational discipleship: Pairing seasoned believers with younger members validates the biblical portrayal of gray hair as “a crown of glory.” Summary שֵׂיב, though appearing only once, crystallizes a major biblical motif: the inevitable decline of the body juxtaposed with the enduring power of God’s word. It calls the faithful to honor age, embrace weakness as a platform for divine strength, and look forward to the final redemption when every frailty will be exchanged for imperishable glory (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). Forms and Transliterations מִשֵּׂיבֽוֹ׃ משיבו׃ miś·śê·ḇōw miśśêḇōw misseiVoLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Kings 14:4 HEB: קָ֥מוּ עֵינָ֖יו מִשֵּׂיבֽוֹ׃ ס NAS: were dim because of his age. KJV: were set by reason of his age. INT: were dim his eyes of his age 1 Occurrence |
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